Maturen: Proposed Great Lakes funding cut 'devastating'

The budget proposal contains far deeper cuts than anticipated. President Trump said it fulfills his campaign promises “to re-prioritize federal spending so that it advances the safety and security of the American people.”
Detroit Free Press

"The Great Lakes are a valuable resource that make up 84 percent of the fresh surface water in North America, but value will be lost if harmful pollutants and invasive species are allowed to spread in our waters," Maturen, R-Vicksburg, said in a statement Monday.

Maturen, whose 63rd District includes portions of Calhoun and Kalamazoo counties, has signed a letter the Great Lakes Legislative Caucus will send to Trump. Maturen is on the executive committee of the group, which is made up of lawmakers from the U.S. and Canada and focuses on issues and policy about the Great Lakes.

Since 2010, the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative has provided more than $2.2 billion to protect the lakes' ecosystem, including restoring natural habitats and fighting against invasive species. It's received $300 million annually in recent years, but would be eliminated under Trump's proposed budget.